Ogden Point Breakwater
Vancouver Island / Victoria · Canada
Victoria's most accessible shore dive runs 800 m along a granite breakwater wall that drops to 18 m and shelters an explosion of invertebrate life. Giant Pacific octopus patrol the rubble at the base, wolf eels occupy crevices, and decorator crabs festoon themselves with hydroids. Plumose anemone colonies — white and orange — carpet the granite blocks in densities that rival any temperate reef in the world. Current sweeps along the outer face, delivering plankton and creating a drift effect on the incoming tide.
Conditions
Depth
3 to 18 m
Good for beginners
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
5 to 9 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
7 to 13°C
7 mm drysuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Vis (m) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Decorator Crab
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 178 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Red Rock Crab
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 778 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Purple Sea Urchin
Last confirmed Jul 2, 2026 · 162 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Giant Pacific Octopus
Last confirmed Mar 23, 2026 · 44 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Kelp Greenling
Last confirmed May 8, 2026 · 67 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Plumose Anemone
Last confirmed Jul 3, 2026 · 37 records
Very likely
Most dives
Grunt Sculpin
Last confirmed Jun 15, 2026 · 17 records
Very likely
Most dives
Sunflower Sea Star
Last confirmed Jul 1, 2026 · 62 records
Very likely
Most dives
Gear